Eli Katoa to miss 2026 NRL season after Melbourne Storm star's brain surgery
The Melbourne Storm have confirmed Eli Katoa will miss the 2026 NRL season. (Getty Images: Hannah Peters)
In short:
Eli Katoa will miss the 2026 NRL season after undergoing surgery to relieve a brain bleed following multiple head knocks while playing for Tonga.
The Melbourne Storm star collided with teammate Lehi Hopoate before a Test against New Zealand, then copped two more hits to the head during the game.
Storm chief executive Justin Rodski said Katoa was back home in Melbourne after more tests and is "improving each day".
Melbourne Storm star Eli Katoa will miss the 2026 NRL season as he continues his recovery from head knocks that forced him to have brain surgery.
The back rower copped multiple head knocks while on Test duty with Tonga during the season-ending Pacific Championships.
Katoa collided with teammate Lehi Hopoate before a Test against New Zealand at Eden Park and then copped two more head knocks during the game.
He suffered seizure activity on the sideline and was taken to hospital, where he had surgery on a brain bleed.
The damage from previous head knocks was evident as Katoa played for Tonga. (AAP: Fiona Goodall/NRL Photos)
The 25-year-old remained in Auckland for weeks before returning to Melbourne, where he underwent further testing under the care of hospital specialists.
He has since been released from the hospital and will continue his recovery from home.
"Eli's health and wellbeing remain our number one priority," Storm chief executive Justin Rodski said.
"It is great to have him home safely and under the care of our club doctor and local specialists. He is improving each day and looking forward to continuing his rehabilitation from home."
The handling of Katoa's injuries caused anger and confusion across rugby league as footage of the contact with Hopoate circulated on social media before the game.
"I feel a bit angry about the situation. I don't get how it can even get to that point," New Zealand great Shaun Johnson said.
"There's going to be fallout over this; there's going to be some heads that will roll because I do not know how Eli Katoa was actually even allowed to take the field."
Former Bronco and Warrior Denan Kemp described it as a "big, big problem" on his Bloke In A Bar podcast.
"This might be one of the worst [examples of] duty of care I've seen in a long time," he said.
The NRL is investigating exactly what happened.
Rodski said there was no timeframe on his possible return to football, but confirmed the two-time Dally M back rower of the year would miss next year's NRL season.
"In consultation with our doctor and neuro specialists, Eli will not return to training this preseason and won't be available for the 2026 season," he said.
"He has a long road ahead in his recovery, and his focus will be on returning to full health before considering any form of return to training.
"Eli is a much-loved and respected member of our team and club. The Storm family will rally around him and support him through his recovery."
Another Melbourne Storm star missed most of the 2025 season with concussion symptoms.
Winger Will Warbrick copped a head knock in the preseason Māori vs Indigenous All Stars game, played in round one, but then sat out until round 26 as symptoms lingered.